Southeast University

School of Science and Engineering

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Program: [Link]. Engg. in EEE
Course Code: PHY122
Course Title: Physics Laboratory
Course Credit: 1.0, Prerequisite: Physics in HSC/ Diploma
Laboratory Experiment Sheet
Course Teacher: Dr. Mahjabin Mobarak

Experiment #: 04
Experiment Title: Determination of the moment of inertia of a fly wheel
about its axis of rotation.

Objectives:
1. To measure the angular velocity of a flywheel.
2. To use the conservation of energy to calculate its moment of inertia.

Theory:
The flywheel consists of a heavy circular disc/massive wheel fitted with a strong axle projecting
on either side. The axle is mounted on ball bearings on two fixed supports. There is a small peg on
the axle. One end of a cord is loosely looped around the peg and its other end carries the weight-
hanger.

Let a mass M, attached by means of a string to the axle of a fly-wheel of radius r, the moment of
inertia of which, about its axis of rotation is I. The length of the string is such that it becomes
detached from the axle when mass strikes the floor. In falling a distance h, the potential energy of
the mass has been converted into kinetic rotational and translation energy. If ω be the maximum
angular velocity of the wheel, F the amount of work done against friction per revolution and n1
the number of revolutions made while the mass falls the distance h, the loss in potential energy of
M=gain in kinetic energy of M+ gain in K.E. of fly wheel+ work done against friction.

Mgh=(1/2) Mr2ω2+(1/2 )I ω2+n1F……… (1)

After the mass strikes the ground the wheel executes a further n2 revolutions and the angular
velocity gradually decreases to zero. The rotational kinetic energy Iω2 has been used up in
overcoming frictional forces, hence

Fn2=1/2( I ω2) ........... (2)

2n2
If n2 revolutions take a time t, then the average angular velocity ωa is given by  
a
t

1
Since the angular velocity decreases uniformly from a maximum ω to minimum of zero, the
average angular velocity ωa is also given by     0  
a
2 2

 2n2
Also the motion is uniform, hence 
2 t
4n2 .................
i.e.   (3)
t

From equations (1), (2) and (3) it follows that

2Mgh  M 2 r 2
I  ……….. (4)
n1
 (1 
2
)
n2

List of Equipment:

Apparatus

1. Flywheel
2. Weights
3. Cord
4. Stop-watch
5. Meter scale
6. Slide calipers

Diagram:

2
Procedure:

● Put the loop at one end of the cord round the peg P on the axle a weight Mg at the other end.
Wrap the cord round the axle by rotating the wheel until the weight is at A just below the rim.
● Mark a point H on the rim of the wheel in order to count the number of revolutions of the wheel.
● Allow the weight to go down till it rests on the upper surface B of the floor on the ground. Adjust
the length of the cord in such a way that at this position of the weight the cord just slips off the peg
P. Thus the weight will fall from A to B trough a height h=A’B’ just before the gets detached from
the peg p.
●Rotate the wheel again till the weight is raised to the position A. Allow the weight to fall and
count the rotation n1 made by the wheel by observing the mark H on its rim while the weight falls
from the position A to B.
●Wind up the thread again till the weight is at the position A. Allow the weight to descend. Start
a stop-watch just when the cord slips off the peg and count the number of rotations n2 made by
the wheel before it comes to rest and record the time t taken for the purpose.
● Use two different masses and take three observations in each case.
vii) Measure the diameter of the axle at two mutually perpendicular directions and determine the
radius r.
4n2 2Mgh  M 2 r 2
●Use equation   for determining the angular velocity and equation I  for
n1
t  (1  )
2

n2
calculating moment of inertia.

Data Collection:

Table1: Determination of n1, n2 and t

No of Mass Height No. of Mean No. of Mean Time Mean
obs. M H revolutions revolutions t t
(g) (cm) n1 n1 n2 n2 (s) (s)

3
Table2: Determination of the radius, r
Position No. M.S. V.S. V.C Excess Total for Radius Mean Mean
of scale of reading reading (cm) by the r=D/2 Radius Radius
obs. (cm) Vernier Diameter (cm) r r
(cm) D (cm) (cm)
(cm)
Horizontal
reading

Vertical
reading

Calculation:
For the mass of g
4n2

t
2Mgh  M 2 r 2
I1   n1


 (1 
2
)
n2
For the mass of g
4n2

t
2Mgh  M 2 r 2

I 2  n


 2 (1  1 )
n2
For the mass of g
2Mgh  M 2 r 2
I 3   n


 2 (1  1 )
n2
I1  I 2  I 3
The moment of inertia of the fly wheel is, I  g-cm2
3

4
Result:
2
The moment of inertia of the given fly wheel is ----------------------- g-cm

Report:
The report will contain all the data you have recorded in your rough copy along with the theory.
No need to write the experimental procedure.

Text Book:
1. Practical Physics
Dr. Giasuddin & Md Shahabuddin